The effect of anti-TNF therapies on serum prohepcidin level in the patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects many tissues and organs because of the fact that it is a chronic, systemic and autoimmune inflammatory disease. Although the etiopathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis is not fully understood, IL-6 has been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. The synthesis of hepcidin, which is a tiny hormone in the form of peptide, is regulated by extrinsic and intrinsic iron load, anemia, and hypoxia. In addition, cytokines regulating hepcidin production is induced by IL-6 and inflammation. In our study; we aimed to assess the relationship between disease activity scores and the pro hepcidin that is bio precursor of hepcidin in patients with RA and the effect of Anti-TNF therapy on prohepcidin level. Methods: Out of Gaziantep University, Medicine Faculty, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation visitors from April 2014 to March 2015, 59 patients, aged 18-75, diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis according to 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria and 64 healthy volunteers who were appropriate in terms of age and gender were included in the study. Demographic information about the patients and the characteristic features specific to the illness were recorded. The activity, severity and impairment level of the illness were evaluated through HAQ, VAS, DAS28, and the quality of life through SF36. Between 08.00 and 10:00, after an 8-10 hours fasting, blood samples were taken from the patients and control group. To measure the level of Prohepsidin, Enzyme-Linked İmmune Sorbent Assay, ELİSA was used. Results: When the level of prohepcidin in patient and control groups was compared to each other, prohepcidin median level was higher in patients than in the control group. However, there was no statistically significant difference. To contribute to the effectiveness of our work, it is required to have longer-term and comprehensive studies evaluating RA patients who are early period and have had no medical treatment